Ana Mandara

Of all the places to dine in San Francisco, Ana Mandara is without a doubt my favorite. Found right on Ghirardelli Square, the restaurant is literally a five-minute walk away from where we stay at Fairmont. An upscale dining spot, the cuisine there comprises mostly modern Vietnamese dishes — all mouth-watering and exotic. But what I really love about the place is the ambiance and the decor ... and, of course, the dessert.

The Cham Bar at Ana Mandara

Here's a little excerpt from the SF Chronicle: "The 170-seat dining room resembles the lush courtyard of a colonial plantation. A large stone-like entrance looks as if it could lead to the main house, but actually leads upstairs to a 70-seat bar that features live jazz Thursday through Saturday. Theatrical lighting adds a romantic glow."

Romantic, indeed. The main room glows with the soft pink and orange hues of tall, lotus-shaped lamps. The whole place reminds me of an elegant courtyard supposedly reminiscent of the lavish islands of South Vietnam. The name itself, Ana Mandara, means "beautiful refuge" and is based on an ancient Vietnamese tale of two star-crossed young lovers who were doomed to be apart. Like the ancient Southeastern Romeo and Juliet, I suppose. And to top it off, every dish on the menu is poetically named — from Whispering Waves to Fragrances of the Forest. From Dreams of Sea and Fire to Delightful Dew Drops and Paradise Found. My favorite dish at the moment is something called Ocean of Dreams — a platter of mesquite-grilled skewered prawns, Thai basil and garlic marinade, and garlic noodles with special house sauce. Quite ethereal and simply delicious.

And as for the dessert? Chocolate lava cake. The most delectable, sensational — if I may be so bold, "orgasmic" — chocolate cake on earth. And it's usually served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, giving it that perfect balance of hot and cold. The kind that just melts in your mouth.

Mmm...

So if you're ever in the city on a nice evening out and feel like indulging in the delights of a savory pan-Asian experience...

I recommend you give this ethereal eatery a try.

On a side note, the restaurant is also co-owned by actors Don Johnson and Cheech Marin.